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Painting a Picture of Health

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What is your body telling you? What colors are you putting out there?

If you were to paint a picture of your health right now, would you put a fuzzy cloud of purple over your head or maybe a circle of red dots around your face? Would you see lines of magenta in your throat, splashes of yellow in your heart or blue squiggles in your abdomen? Katie Beecher might.

Katie is a licensed professional counselor and medical and emotional intuitive with more than 30 years’ experience as a healer. Strongly influenced by the work of psychologist and founder of analytical psychiatry Carl Jung, who believed the body expresses symptoms from our emotions, Katie promotes holistic health, the wellness of the mind, body and spirit.

Her new book, “Heal from Within: A Guidebook to Intuitive Wellness,” is packed with ancient wisdom and acute awareness about connectedness and how the body works. More profoundly, she explains what our bodies may be saying to us when something is not quite right.

A big believer in finding the root cause of what is making us sick, Katie not only addresses physical symptoms, but explores “everything in our past and present that may be contributing to being unwell, whether that be physically, emotionally and/or spiritually.”

“A lot of times when you are having an issue, the tendency is to just look at one aspect of it,” she says. “It may be physical symptoms and looking at just the physical cause or emotionally, like whether it’s a relationship thing, or whether it’s neurological. What I’ve learned from my own experience as well as working with clients is that there are so many different factors that impact our lives, our happiness and our wellness and they can go back to childhood trauma. But it’s also things like relationships now, nutrition, whether you’re happy in your career or not, spiritual things like how you are being treated and how you are expressing yourself. All these things impact how we feel about ourselves and that translates into how we treat our bodies and how those symptoms are expressed by our body.”

Also, Katie is a watercolor artist. She uses paintings to investigate and communicate what is causing distress and illness in her clients. “In one painting, the guides told me to show blue squiggles in the gut. Blue is about being empathic and sensitive. When I get blue, it’s often from people who are very influenced by others. They almost care too much about what other people think. From a very young child, this individual had a lot of gut symptoms and stomach aches. He discovered he was not being his authentic self and that was causing him pain.”

Katie works with chakras, or energy centers in the body that correspond to specific nerve bundles and internal organs. There are seven major ones. If a painting shows magenta lines in the throat, for example, that draws attention to the fifth chakra, which has to do with expression and may indicate a need to express oneself or speak up, she says. “Orange is often about being courageous. The more you trust your intuition and trust your true self, the more courage you will have to be able to do that.”

Color on top or above the head has to do with the seventh or the Crown Chakra, which she says is about connecting to the “supreme self” and the universal flow of energy. “Yellow in this area may indicate loving support surrounding this individual.”

Katie has recovered from an eating disorder, Lyme disease and depression and wrote “Heal from Within” partly to inspire others that they can also heal from very difficult conditions. In the book, she emphasizes bolstering and protecting our healing energy and “embracing an all-powerful loving force.” She offers ways to do this. Here are three:

  1. Ground yourself through meditation, being in nature or taking an Epsom salt bath;
  2. Make a list of negative or fearful thoughts. “If they are out of your body, you can begin to address them and release them.”
  3. Be aware. “Pay attention to how you feel when you are around certain people and places. Avoid the ones that are draining or negative.”

With a calling to help people connect with their intuition, Katie believes paying attention to our own symptoms and understanding where our pain is coming from in a deeper sense is key to holistic health.

What is your body telling you? What colors are you putting out there?

See how Katie diagnoses her paintings and hear more about holistic healing on the video podcast Zonie Living at StarWorldwideNetworks.com/shows/bonnie-stevens. “Healing from Within: A Guidebook to Intuitive Wellness” is available on Amazon. For more information, visit KatieBeecher.com  QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Bonnie Stevens is a public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie.stevens@gmail.com.

Courtesy Photo: Katie Beecher.

Celestial Gala Honored Jim and Linda Lee, Celebrated Planetarium

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“It was a really nice event, a great evening,” said Bobinsky.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott celebrated the five-year anniversary of the Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium while honoring ERAU patrons, the Lees, at a Spring Celestial Gala that raised more than $70,000 to support the facility and STEM programming.

The Lees have been strong contributors to the success of the Quad Cities area for decades in a number of ways through charitable donations and business endeavors. They have donated to many community organizations and have impacted the area’s economic growth through upscale residential and commercial developments. The Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium, the only Arizona planetarium north of Phoenix, is one of their most visible contributions.

“The Planetarium has created a wonderful venue to bring not only our own students, but also high school, middle school and elementary students here to see what a STEM education can provide,” said ERAU Executive Director of Philanthropy Steve Bobinsky. “It also encourages Quad Cities residents to venture onto our campus, engage with faculty and students and see that we’re not just a flight school. We also offer incredible STEM-related majors such as aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, cybersecurity, gaming and simulation.”

A live auction at the gala offered bidders unique opportunities such as a private event in the planetarium for 100 guests; a 60-minute flight in an ERAU Cessna 172S NAV III aircraft; a European culinary tour for eight people at the home of ERAU Chancellor Dr. Anette Karlsson and her husband, Dr. Rick Lehman, compliments of chef and restaurateur Barry Barbe; and a four-day live-flight experience for a parent and student.

Bobinsky said $33,000 was raised through the live auction and an additional $40,000 gift was received to support the expansion of the planetarium’s show catalog and technological capabilities provided for the public as well as STEM outreach educational opportunities.

More than 100 people attended the gala and were treated to an evening of images and discovery from the James Webb Space Telescope, set to a London Symphony Orchestra recording of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, created by Planetarium Director Eric Edelman.

“It was a really nice event, a great evening,” said Bobinsky. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Courtesy Photo: ERAU President Dr. P. Barry Butler and ERAU Prescott Chancellor Dr. Anette Karlsson honored Jim and Linda Lee (center) and thanked them for their involvement with the planetarium. 

Bombas Gives Socks to Young Ones through Tennies for Tots

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“She saw a need and did what it took, almost single-handedly, to fill it. That kind of volunteerism is rare, but the reward fills you beyond measure.”

Paula Sedillo Wise and the volunteers for the non-profit she started, Tennies for Tots, were more than thrilled when they learned they would be partnering with Bombas, a sock and T-shirt company, and their One Purchased=One Donated program. They are sending her 3,000 pairs of children’s socks to add to the new shoes, books and book bags she provides to children 5 years old and younger who are part of families who live in poverty throughout Northern and Central Arizona. As she put it with a smile, “It knocked my socks off!”

Bombas donates one item of clothing for every item they sell. Currently, the company has more than 3,500 partners distributing those gifts throughout the United States. To date, Bombas has donated 75 million pieces of clothing to programs that serve those in need. Of the clothing they donate, socks, underwear and T-shirts are the top three most requested items at shelters. “We are honored to be a part of this amazing and one-of-a-kind program,” said Wise.

Paula started Tennies for Tots in 2018, after attending a back-to-school event in Prescott, where she learned that there where programs in place to help school-aged children with school clothes and supplies but they were not available for younger children. Although she works full time, she decided she was going to fill that need. She started with a couple of the Head Start Programs in Flagstaff. Slowly, she expanded, and now serves nearly 40 Head Start programs in four different counties in Arizona and more than 3,000 children every year, including those in Williams, Flagstaff, Page, the Navajo Nation, Winslow and the White Mountains. For many of these children, they are the first new shoes they have ever had.

Last year was a difficult year for Tennies for Tots, Wise reports. She and the volunteers had always shopped discount bins and store closings to buy shoes and socks that they gave away. This held the cost to under $10 per child. But with inflation and supply chain problems, her sources dried up. As a result, the cost per child rose by almost 50%. “But thanks to some new ideas and help from Bill and Barbara Packard and their ‘Going Full Circle’ books, we found a way to get everyone outfitted,” she said.

“Making a difference is all about a commitment to a cause,” said Bill. “She saw a need and did what it took, almost single-handedly, to fill it. That kind of volunteerism is rare, but the reward fills you beyond measure.”

Sara Presler, former mayor of Flagstaff, introduced Wise to the Packards about four years ago. They helped her create the non-profit and fill out grant applications. Hence, donations doubled from 2021 to 2022.

“We were amazed how this single mother who worked full-time had found the time and resources to help all these children,” said Bill. “We recognized the same drive in her that lead us to open Full Circle Trade and Thrift and our Pantry.”

As word has gotten out, Wise says requests for help from families have increased as well. “We are always looking for more help, so if you or a group you belong to would like to help financially or to volunteer, buying, sorting and distributing, we sure could use the help.”

For more information, visit www.tenniesfortots.org. The State of Arizona recognized Tennies for Tots as a Qualifying Tax Credit Organization in 2022. That means a single person may donate $400 or couples may donate $800 to deduct the full amount from their state income tax bill. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Courtesy Photo: Paula Sedillo Wise is joyfully overwhelmed by the gift of 3,000 socks to support her non-profit, Tennies for Tots.

Quad Cities Solar Co-op Surpassing Membership Goal 

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“It’s thrilling to see so much immediate interest in local solar from the community,” said  SUN Arizona Program Director Adrian Keller.

The Quad Cities Solar Co-op launched on March 15, and has quickly blown past its membership goal of 50 residents. The solar co-op, a group formed to help residents go solar, just announced a new goal of 100 members.

The solar co-op, organized by non-profit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN), is free to join and open to homeowners and small business owners in the Quad Cities region. This includes residents in and around Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt.

On Wednesday, March 22, SUN Arizona Program Director Adrian Keller and local partners hosted a Solar 101 presentation at the Prescott Public Library to talk to residents about solar and explain how going through the co-op works. More than 60 residents from across Yavapai County attended the event.

“It’s thrilling to see so much immediate interest in local solar from the community,” said  SUN Arizona Program Director Adrian Keller. “We know that the process and considerations can be complicated, so it was great to see so many folks come out to the event and get their questions answered.”

Together, co-op members will learn about solar energy and leverage their numbers to purchase individual solar systems at a competitive price and top quality. Solar United Neighbors has run solar co-ops across the state, ranging from 50 to 200 members, but this is the first one for Quad Cities area residents.

With so much initial interest, SUN has already put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for solar installers to bid on the co-op. After collecting bids, SUN will facilitate a meeting for co-op members to select a single solar company to serve the group. Members are not obligated to purchase solar. Instead, they will have the option to individually purchase panels based on the selected installer’s group rate. SUN remains vendor-neutral through the selection process.

With the federal passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, co-op members will also have the opportunity to use the solar tax credit for residential solar. The residential solar tax credit saves homeowners 30% on the full cost of a solar installation. A similar tax credit is also available to small businesses, who are invited to take part in the co-op.

The solar co-op will also help participants consider battery storage, which, paired with solar, helps bolster the grid during extreme weather events like last summer’s monsoons. Thanks to the IRA, homeowners can take a 30% tax credit for battery storage for the next 10 years. The new legislation also makes it possible to receive the tax credit for stand-alone storage, no solar needed.

Partnering on the solar co-op are: Yavapai Climate Change Coalition, Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance, Sierra Club Yavapai Group and Interfaith Climate Action Team.

SUN has hosted 13 solar co-ops in Arizona since 2019. According to the group’s estimates, the 383 homes and businesses that now have solar panels because of co-ops represent 3,070 kW of solar power, $9 million in local solar spending and more than 89 million pounds of lifetime carbon offsets.

Individuals interested in going solar can learn more and sign up for the co-op at solarunitedneighbors.org/quadcities. QCBN

Courtesy Photo: Solar United Neighbors (SUN) hosts Solar 101 presentations for residents. 

Sheltering Animals in Disasters                                                             

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Volunteers practice drills, identify shelter locations.

A record-breaking winter of cold temperatures, snow, rain and flooding in Northern Arizona has provided much-needed precipitation but has also primed grasses and fuels that will burn quickly in a wildfire. The wildfire season is the most recurring threat in Yavapai County, but neighborhoods may also need to be evacuated quickly because of flooding, severe weather or hazardous waste spills.

Disasters never happen at a convenient time and strong emotions of fear and uncertainty can run high when emergencies force humans to evacuate their homes.

Statistics from FEMA show that in emergency evacuations, most people won’t leave home without their animals, but with a plan in place, they will be better prepared to evacuate quickly.

Such evacuations can also be frightening for others in the animal kingdom, including household pets such as cats and dogs. However, until recently, there has been a lack of safe havens for evacuated farm animals, such as horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, rabbits, llamas and alpacas.

Disasters have increased in size and frequency, and as communities grow, more animal owners are affected. Fortunately, Yavapai County is proactive in emergency preparedness. Serving the households of Yavapai County, two dedicated non-profit organizations partner with Emergency Management to provide animal shelter services at no cost to animal owners.

Animal Disaster Services (ADS) provides shelter to pets and small companion animals displaced by evacuations. Large Animal Shelters and Emergency Readiness (LASER) provides a safe haven for barn animals during evacuations, sheltering equines, goats, sheep, poultry, pigs, llamas, alpacas and emus. Both organizations are powered entirely by volunteers and donations; there are no paid positions and no government funding is provided.

This spring, the outreach resources of both LASER and ADS have been merged to create a stronger force in emergency situations to help animals, large and small, in both urban and rural communities.

“In 2023, it’s a kind of renewed partnership between LASER and ADS,” said Cathy Heath, LASER director and secretary. “We’ve always worked alongside each other, because we both deal with animals. This year, we thought it would be good to join our efforts and get the message out about emergency preparedness and about the resources available for animals and our offer to make presentations to communities to help inform them.”

The two non-profits are members of the Yavapai County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster), which is comprised of more than 20 organizations that may be activated to help people affected by disaster.

With similar missions, ADS and LASER address not only animal needs during a disaster, but also the safety of neighbors as well. They have teamed up to make community presentations about the resources they offer to individuals, families and households in the county.

Heath notes that LASER has been activated by Yavapai County officials seven times for local wildfires and has been on standby six times. “The April 2022 Crooks Fire struck early in the year and took everyone by surprise,” she said. “LASER sheltered 29 animals for the evacuated residents of Walker for an unprecedented 14 days. Our communities must always be prepared.”

Heath said the sheltered animals included chickens, turkeys, goats and horses. “There was plenty of food. Olsen’s Grain provides the hay. That’s one of our great community partners.”

It was challenging to prepare for the wildfire season during extreme winter conditions, she said, but efforts have been stepped up in the spring. “It’s been a very wet winter, so LASER held our first drill at the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management on March 29,” Heath said. “The entire intake process was simulated with areas for our greeters and stalls. Some volunteers did role playing as animal owners, arriving at the LASER shelter with virtual animals and a variety of situations. The process was then reviewed in a roundtable discussion with input from everyone who participated.”

There was another session in April, with two more scheduled for May and June.

Volunteers are at the heart of both organizations, and in LASER alone, there are currently about 60 volunteers.

“We’ve picked up a lot of new volunteers,” Heath noted. “It’s stayed pretty strong. We have a lot of compassionate people here. Everyone pulls together when they are needed.”

Shelters are available at various predetermined locations depending on the locale and movement of disasters. The primary LASER shelter is in Prescott Valley, off Highway 89A, near Arizona Down. There, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors has dedicated a parcel with 190 stalls as a Large Animal Evacuation Shelter and, under a written agreement, LASER will supply and staff it during evacuations.

Also, fundraising events for animal shelters have been effective. “In 2020, in spite of the pandemic, our communities rallied to raise over $40,000 to build a LASER shelter at the Chino Valley Equestrian Park,” Heath said. “This community has recognized this need, and they have always rallied for us. We’ve had great community support.”

Heath is one of six members of the LASER Board of Directors. “We are all very dedicated. What’s great about our board, each of us brings a different experience to the table, so we have a great balance within our board.”

Founded in 1999, ADS has provided shelter to pets displaced by fires and flooding, as well as warming shelters in the winter and cooling shelters in the summers when residents have been impacted by major power outages.

“One of my goals has been to reach out to organizations and work together to inform as many people as possible about pet emergency preparedness,” said ADS President Nancy Stamile. “I’m very happy to say we are achieving this goal. Working with a variety of rescue groups has also given us a better understanding of all the different evacuation needs. We are so proud to be a part of helping families, pets and other organizations in emergencies.”

Most recently, ADS provided two shelters simultaneously, with one in Camp Verde and the other in Black Canyon City, as a result of recent flooding, which impacted multiple communities throughout Yavapai County.

Supply trailers make ADS services mobile, as they are ready to be deployed to predetermined shelter locations within Yavapai County. Shelter locations have been selected based upon availability, accessibility and proximity to potential American Red Cross shelters.

“We always have to be ready,” Heath said. “With the Crook Fire, no one expected a fire that early in the year. They’re saying there’s really no fire season anymore; it could happen anytime.” QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN

Courtesy Photo: Large Animal Shelters and Emergency Readiness volunteers train for evacuations caused by wildfires, like the 2017 Goodwin Fire, and other disasters, such as recent flooding events. 

Bronze of Prescott Fighter Pilot Being Created for Airport

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“The statue will remind people of the history of Arizona and will promote the city at a nominal cost,” said Goode.

Prescott-based sculptor Bill Nebeker is working on an eight-foot statue of Prescott World War I fighter pilot hero Ernest A. Love, which will be placed at the entry of Prescott Regional Airport, Arizona’s third busiest airport.

The Prescott City Council voted unanimously March 28 to approve $125,000 for Nebeker’s creation. The statue is funded by the Arizona Community Foundation and Friends of the Airport. The statue is expected to be placed there by April 30, 2024.

Prescott Mayor Phil Goode said the statue will be a great addition to the airport, placed in front of the new terminal. The old terminal was built in the 1940s. Prescott Airport was built in 1928 and was the second in Arizona, with Tucson having the first in 1919.

“The statue will remind people of the history of Arizona and will promote the city at a nominal cost,” said Goode. “Bill is a world-renowned sculptor. It’s fortunate that we have someone of his caliber who combines Western art and aviation.”

Nebeker said he was honored that the Art in Public Places Committee selected him. The hardest part, he said, was researching Love so he knew how to authentically portray him in bronze. “Love was an amazing young man.”

Nebeker learned that Love excelled in athletics and academics at Prescott High School. He studied engineering at Stanford for three years and was at the top of his class. He quit during his third year because of his fascination with airplanes. He was sent to flight school in San Diego.

Nebeker also learned that Love wrote home to his parents every week. Nebeker read those letters for his research, which are stored at Sharlot Hall. A book about him, written by a second-generation cousin, is in the Prescott Library.

Love was severely wounded when his plane was shot down over France. He died a few days later. This happened two months before the war ended. Love was considered to be missing in action for several months. Later, his body was buried at Arlington Cemetery.

Nebeker is known nationally for his bronze statue creations. He sculpted the one by the roundabout near Phippen Museum. He has another one on Courthouse Plaza that pays tribute to fallen officers. His statue of early settlers is in Glendale and a statue of a territorial marshal is located at the Arizona Department of Public Safety headquarters in Phoenix. He also makes coffee-table sized bronze statues.

Nebeker started working in a bronze foundry in 1967 and remained there for eight years. He has been an independent artist since that time. His work can be found at Mountain Spirit Gallery on Whiskey Row. It is also online and in galleries throughout the country. QCBN

By Ray Newton and Stan Bindell, QCBN

Photo by Stan Bindell: Bronze sculptor Bill Nebecker displays a lot of love with a miniature and larger-than-life statue of Presoctt World War I fighter pilot Ernest A. Love.

Computer Experts Warn Users About Increase in Scams

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“Scammers are getting really good at looking like somebody you trust,” says Idea Karma owner Robert Moses.

Information Technology expert Robert Moses says many of his customers are concerned about computer scans, and according to the Better Business Bureau, they have good reason to be on high alert. Scamming is a $10 billion industry and the BBB reports online scams rose 87% from 2015 to 2022.

Moses, the owner of Idea Karma LLC in Chino Valley, wants to make computer users aware of scams so they recognize suspicious activity when they see it. He says a lot of online pop-up advertisements are designed to make computer users think their computer has a virus, when they do not. Another scam involves postcards that arrive in the mail claiming guarantees for software have expired.

There are also scams with callers posing as representatives from Microsoft, Amazon or similar companies. “They want you to give them access to your computer. You should not do that. They will not call you. It will be on you to call them if you have a problem,” he said.

One scam tells the victim that their house is going to be foreclosed on if they don’t pay them. “They prey on homeowners. They say they are going to save you from foreclosure. They get your title and then they kick you out.”

Another popular scam involves online dating. Criminals create fake profiles. Once the person gains the other’s trust, they ask for large sums of money.

Scammers have devised “hundreds” of ways to get into people’s phones or computers in order to obtain information about their finances, he said. “They try to get you to pull out a money order.”

Moses estimates he helps six to eight customers a month deal with scams. “That doesn’t seem like a lot, but the numbers are starting to add up.”

And those who are less adept at technology are more at risk. “People who don’t understand what’s happening think they have a virus, so they call and get somebody in India, Pakistan or United Kingdom, so they give them access to their computer and they put in a virus.”

Once the scammers have access to the computers, they can browse through the person’s email and apps. “Don’t keep your password anywhere digitally,” he warned.

He also cautions about giving any personal information over the phone or computer, especially regarding bank accounts or credit card information. He offers five ways to avoid being scammed.

First, if someone calls you, ask for a phone number to call them back. Before you call them back, Google the company they say they are with. “If it does not show up, it is not valid,” he said.

Second, be careful about giving information over the phone. Scammers may already have obtained your name and address, but research them before trusting them.

Third, maintain a known software safety program. Norton is among the best, says Moses. Programs range in cost from free to $100. None of these software safety programs will ever contact you.

Fourth, don’t give out any information to people you don’t know.

And fifth, do not open emails or answer phone calls if you don’t know where they are coming from. He says if you open an email, but don’t respond, it will still be OK. “Don’t open an attachment or respond,” he emphasized.

If you are scammed, Moses says to let your bank know as soon as possible and visit the bank in person rather than calling. The banking institution may provide a legitimate phone number to call to report the scam. He says it’s a good idea to report scams to a local jurisdiction and the FBI. “The more information they have, the better.”

Whether anyone can recoup money lost through a scam depends on the situation. If someone gave out their personal information willingly, funds may not be recoverable. “The hard part is that scammers are getting really good at looking like somebody you trust,” he said.

If your computer has been compromised, Moses says to bring it to either a computer repair technician like himself or a major computer technical support program.

“If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” he said. “I want to educate the community so people don’t become victims.” QCBN

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

Photo by Stan Bindell: “Scammers are getting really good at looking like somebody you trust,” says Idea Karma owner Robert Moses.

Quintessential Newsman Trained in a News Field of Dreams

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QCBN honors Ray Newton for his commitment to truth, education and reporting America’s stories.

Long before Google, Alexa, Instagram and the internet, news was gathered through miles of legwork and worn-out shoes. A journalist was only as good as the relationships he cultivated and the sixth sense he developed. Reporting and uncovering stories required a tenacious and genuine interest in people, places and things that mattered, and a relentless hunger to know one more thing and to get it right before going to press.

Ray Newton, a savvy street kid in the San Francisco Bay area in the late 1940s, developed his knack for knowing where news was about to break. At age 12, he determined that place was Seals Stadium, where Joe DiMaggio’s younger brothers carried on the family’s baseball legacy, pitcher Larry Jansen won 30 games and local favorite Lefty O’Doul was not only a good pitcher and a great hitter, but the team’s manager for 17 seasons.

“I got to know all those guys. I was covering spring baseball in the Bay Area and writing for my junior high school newspaper,” he said.

Reporting America’s Stories

Following his love for words, Newton graduated with a degree in English from Kansas State University Fort Hays and then worked as a reporter for Rush County News in La Crosse, Kansas. He followed up with a master’s degree in communication and journalism from South Dakota State in 1961. As a budding journalist, he was working as a special news correspondent for the Santa Fe New Mexican when one of the biggest stories in American history sent shockwaves across the country.

Newton was standing next to his hard-driving boss, Tony Hillerman [best-selling author of mystery novels featuring Navajo Nation Police officers], when the Associated Press filed an infamous news bulletin on Nov. 22, 1963: “President Kennedy was shot today just as his motorcade left downtown Dallas.”

“‘Do you realize who that makes the next president?’ Tony said to me, noting the tension between President Kennedy and then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.”

The next year, Newton was covering President Johnson when the U.S. and Mexico resolved a historic border dispute. The Rio Grande River had long marked the border between the two nations; however, it jumped its banks during a massive flood 100 years earlier, which caused it to take a different course further south. As a result, Texas acquired a square mile of land known as the Chamizal. On Sept. 25, 1964, Presidents Johnson and Adolfo López Mateos of Mexico met there, shook hands and ceremoniously signed the Chamizal Convention Act, which identified the land as belonging to Mexico. The two nations then shared the cost of forcing the river back to its original channel.

“That was a heck of a big deal,” said Newton, who was at the site, covering the story for the Santa Fe New Mexican, the oldest newspaper company in the West. “It was a major world news story, and it was celebratory watching LBJ formally proclaim the settlement.”

Newton not only documented history in the making but devoted decades to capturing moments of joy and sadness, shock and triumph in the American story. Through many pairs of shoes and reams of paper, his work has kept us informed and connected, including as a writer and photographer covering his beloved Flagstaff and Prescott for Quad Cities Business News and Flagstaff Business News.

At age 87, Newton continued to drop into that newsman stance when speaking to someone, leaning in with focused, inquisitive brown eyes, searching for facts and hanging on every word to get the information right. Because, to him, that matters. The relationship, the facts, the truth.

“I had a couple of jobs where they [editors] tried to alter my story. We ought to be objective tellers of fact, as best we can report it – giving accurate, honest information and hoping we give readers enough that they can make wise decisions. I’ve had some editors who want to twist it. I quit a job because of that. I will not do that.”

In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Newton worked on special assignments for AP and as a news reporter/photographer for the CBS  affiliate in Albuquerque, KGGM-TV.

Training Generations of Journalists

Newton’s unwavering code of truth and integrity was his calling card, principles he instilled in generations of journalism students at Northern Arizona University.

Newton joined NAU in 1973, as an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism. By 1985, he was a full professor and the dean of the College of Creative and Communication Arts.

“I was so pleased to be a part of that team in Creative Arts and seeing that journalism program grow. At one time, that was the biggest journalism program in Arizona, and we were selecting good students. We had excellent faculty and gave them opportunities to do what they could do best. I trusted that and loved what we did.”

Under Newton’s leadership, the college established a chapter for the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Society of Professional Journalists. It also began the practice of bringing student interns into working newsrooms.

“That made the program so visible, but also gave students the opportunity to find out in advance what the real world is like, not what a textbook tells you. To have Bill Close [legendary Arizona anchorman known for his high standards] say to you, ‘My God, you’re making some of the best students.’ That made us so pleased with what we were doing.”

During this time, Newton served on boards of many professional journalism and broadcasting associations and consulted for newspapers, government agencies and educational organizations. He wrote for Reader’s Digest and became the publication’s director of writers’ workshops across the West and on cruise ships. As such, he assembled editors from top national publications such as Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Field and Stream and others, to offer writers insight as to what they look for in stories. “Writers streamed in from all over the region,” he said.

Recognizing Excellence

Newton worked as an associate to NAU President Gene Hughes for six years and calls him his “best boss ever.”

“A good boss is not afraid to try new things. A good boss trusts people to make things happen. A good boss will tell you straight out when something you write is pretty bad. You have to appreciate that!”

President Hughes sent Newton to Oahu, Hawaii, to study the Polynesian Cultural Center there. His vision, says Newton, was to create a Native American Cultural Center, which NAU has today.

In 1994, Newton became the director of research for the NAU School of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Throughout his career, he was recognized with dozens of honors, awards and recognitions including “Outstanding Educators of America” and “Who’s Who Among Authors and Journalists.” Recently, he received the Prescott chapter Phi Kappa Phi honor society emeritus member award from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he serves on the Board of Visitors. In addition, FBN  and QCBN are honoring Ray Newton and his commitment to teaching, advocacy for education and dedication to the truth with the Best of Business Ray Newton Excellence in Education Award.

“Ray is not only a critical part of the team and so well-respected and known throughout Northern Arizona, he is a stellar example of what it means to be a person of integrity in all he does. He has impacted thousands of lives and we feel so blessed to work with Ray and to have his journalistic talent grace our publications. But, more importantly, to have his friendship through the years,” said QCBN and FBN Founder Troy Bix. “Ray’s energy and dogged determination are unmatched. When he shows up, there is no denying the excitement he brings to a room or event.”

People Matter Most

What makes Newton most proud, he says, are the many students he has taught, mentored, cheered on through their careers and known as lifelong friends. What matters to him most are people.

“Like so many of my professors at NAU, I looked up to Ray and was thrilled when I learned that he was following my career after graduation and when he shared his pride and ongoing support,” said NAU Associate Vice President for Communications Kimberly Ott. “My admiration for Ray continued to grow when I realized that he is also a tremendous leader. I watched him work with the Flagstaff City Council and city staff to enhance the hospitality industry for NAU and Flagstaff. He continues to support the university he loves and show his ongoing selfless devotion to all the students he mentors.”

“Ray Newton inspired me in several ways: first, as a young university student, and then later during his encore career,” said NAU Teaching Professor of Management Theresa Bierer. “After retirement from academia, Ray continued to embrace all that life has to offer, with an energy and spirit that touches many of us.”

“I met Ray after he ‘retired,’ which meant that he was just as engaged in the community and seemingly 10 times as busy as he was before he retired! Yet, he always found a way to make time for people and listen to them intently,” said GoalBusters Consulting Partner Alice Ferris. “You felt like you were the only person in the room when you spoke with Ray. He was incredibly encouraging of me, and I will always remember that.”

Newton lists Dr. Gene Hughes as one of the five most influential people in his life. “He was a great example of solid, honest leadership.”

Ralph Carlisle “Smitty” Smith also makes the list. He was the Newtons’ neighbor in New Mexico, an MIT-educated nuclear engineer who worked alongside J. Robert Oppenheimer, the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory who was responsible for the research and design of the atomic bomb. “I’ll never forget Smitty telling us about the morning they set off the big bomb called “Trinity,” in the New Mexican desert near Socorro [5 a.m., July 16, 1945]. The sun was coming up and everything brightened beyond belief.”

Newton calls his adoptive father, Lou Newton, his hero and credits Lou and Evelyn, his stepmother, for getting him off the streets as a young teenager and being “very” forgiving. “They gave me an opportunity to make something of my life and I took advantage of it. They sent me to high school in La Crosse, Kansas, where I lettered in football, basketball and track.” Newton later coached high school students in those sports.

He also puts his family on the list. “They are so important to me: three children, Lynn, Sheri and Bill [Bill is deceased], four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They are so supportive, just nice, good people. I am just amazed at how close we are and how much we love and depend on each other.”

And above all, Patty, his wife of 66 years. “We’ve done so much traveling. We’ve enjoyed so much. We have had so many wonderful opportunities. Early on we didn’t have money. I worked in a donut shop and Patty was a dishwasher and accompanist making 60 cents an hour. Her patience and her pure sense of humanity are so admirable.”

With these words, Ray and Patty smile at each other with the kind of knowing that comes from deep love, appreciation and peace earned across nearly 70 years. As the two enjoy Culver’s cheeseburgers and fries in the quiet of this sunny Prescott afternoon, Ray accepts that he will not be wearing out any more soles chasing down stories. However, the legacy of this quintessential newsman will be carried on in other news fields of dreams by those he taught and those who strive to fill those well-respected and well-worn shoes. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Earlier this year, Ray was diagnosed with inoperable bone cancer. Ray died at his home Monday night, April 10. He was 87 years old. Cards and letters can be sent to Patty Newton, 941 Lupine Lane, Prescott, AZ 86305.

Emmy-award winning journalist and editor Bonnie Stevens credits Ray Newton and his Magazine Writing class for helping her land her first job out of NAU as a writer for news anchors Bill Close and Mary Jo West at the CBS affiliate KOOL-TV in Phoenix.

YRMC, Blue Cross Blue Shield Continue to Discuss Insurance Coverage

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Every patient and the quality of their health care matters.

Dignity Health Regional Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), have agreed to restart negotiations regarding a dispute between the hospital and the healthcare insurer about reimbursement for certain medical care and surgical treatments.

The issue has left some patients in Yavapai County confused about what this means for their coverage. Emergency services will continue to be covered, but some of the medical services may be considered out of network and would cost patients more money. In some cases, the patients may not be able to afford the extra costs.

Another option is traveling to another Blue Cross Blue Shield provider, but some patients don’t have the capacity to do that.

The two sides have been negotiating since September regarding the amount of increases the hospital wants the insurance group to pay. This impacts the two hospital campuses in Prescott and Prescott Valley. Dignity Health Regional Medical Center is the only full-care hospital in Western Yavapai County.

Patients who have medical appointments can contact BCBSAZ to find out about their coverage.

BCBSAZ Public Relations Specialist Amanda Siedler said that while the insurance provider continues to help members get the care they need, affordability remains a focus as they work to find a middle ground with Dignity Health Regional Medical Center.

“Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, all members in Yavapai County can go to any emergency services because they are always covered regardless of the facility’s network status. Primary care providers at Yavapai Regional Medical Center community clinics remain in network. The YRMC Medical Group Clinic providers have separate agreements and are still in-network,” she said in an issued statement.

Siedler said if a member is facing a life-altering condition or diagnosis, the Clinical Rapid Response Team is ready to help.

“We can move fast to get the member the testing, treatment and care they need,” she said.

Clients can email RapidResponse@azblue.com.‍ BCBSAZ also will help find new in-network providers in the area for future appointments. Members can email MemberHelp@azblue.com.

Sara Patterson, manager of external communications for Dignity Health YRMC, said in an issued statement that for nearly a month, Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) has been eager to have BCBSAZ return to the negotiating table and reach a fair agreement on behalf of its members.

“We are pleased that BCBSAZ has agreed to re-engage in negotiation discussions, as both organizations have a responsibility to address this matter professionally, fairly and with a sense of urgency in the best interests of those who are directly impacted,” she stated. “Every patient and the quality of their health care matters. And, every patient should have access to health care that is close to home while also having financial protection from their health insurance plan.”

Patterson said it is their hope to work together toward an equitable contract that will put patients first and allow them to continue providing their full range of healthcare services. “We apologize for the inconvenience this situation has created and sincerely appreciate the community’s patience as we continue to work through this negotiation.” QCBN

By Stan Bindell and Ray Newton, QCBN

Photo by Stan Bindell: While discussions continue about coverage and costs, BCBSAZ officials say all Yavapai County members are covered for emergency services in YRMC community clinics. 

Superhosts Share Tips for Short-Term Rental Success

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  Airbnb designation attracts visitors, increases revenue.

Wendy Chavis designed and built her Prescott home to raise her teenaged daughters. But empty nest syndrome began to emerge when they left home after high school. “Airbnb took the empty nest right out of the house,” declared the Airbnb Superhost.

From her four-bedroom home, guests can see the mountains and are close to the Prescott National Forest. “The online description of my Airbnb talks about plenty of peace and quiet, so it brings in the kind of guest that fits right in,” said Chavis, a residential sales realtor with Weichert, Realtors – CLA. “I get many female solo travelers who are attracted to the description.”

And through their glowing reviews, they attract more visitors to her home. “It seems like a blessing for all who come, so it’s an honor to provide a welcoming space. I anticipate my guests’ needs, like bringing a cup of hot tea to a weary traveler arriving late.”

A Badge of Honor

Every quarter, Airbnb evaluates the hosting performance of the past 12 months for all listings on the host’s account. Hosting performance is measured on various criteria, including response rate, cancelation rate and overall rating. Hosts must maintain a 4.8 rating to earn the Superhost badge.

“The Superhost program was created in 2014 to celebrate and reward the top-rated and most experienced Airbnb hosts,” report Airbnb officials in a news release. “Regardless of what kind of space they list on the platform – from a simple spare room to a sprawling estate – any host can become a Superhost by consistently offering exceptional hospitality. And it pays off.”

Indeed, the typical Superhost earned 64% more than a regular host, according to the Airbnb report.

Airbnb identifies its Superhosts with a special badge in the online marketplace for vacation rentals, indicating to potential guests that their short-term homestays have been reviewed and rated positively by previous lodgers.

Providing Comfort

Superhost Beth Tucker of Flagstaff is an 11-year Airbnb veteran with many repeat guests. “I enjoy meeting the guests,” she said. “I meet them and help them have an experience. I want people to come back and dig the area. It gives me great pleasure to hear, ‘I didn’t know there was so much to do here!’”

Tucker worked and traveled in developing countries for her job before retiring. “I feel I gained insight from those travel experiences and can provide comforts. Everybody travels differently, but being able to anticipate the guest’s needs makes me successful.”

One way she makes guests feel at home is to turn the internet radio onto a station streaming from the guest’s home country. “I had people from the Netherlands come in, so I set the radio to an Amsterdam station. Turns out they were getting homesick, so the radio in their native language really helped. You need to think about what kind of situation your guest is in.”

Creating Experiences

Darryl Brown, who rents out two rooms in his Flagstaff home, also earned the Superhost designation. “I made a separate entrance and closed [the rooms] off from the rest of my home. I had a blast creating the space, furnishing and decorating,” he told Quad Cities Business News. “I tried to make each space beautiful, fun and a different experience from what people have in their own homes.”

Brown says Airbnb success comes from “tangible” and “intangible” elements. “Photography catches people’s eye, but before long, people are booking on your reviews, so reviews have to be high. The feedback I get on my place is that people love the interior design and attention to detail. I have unique furniture, art, quality linens, a comfy bed and a beautiful bathroom. I have good coffee, tea and hot cocoa,” said Brown, who has been an Airbnb host for the past five years.

“I have seen short-term rentals done irresponsibly where large homes are rented out and the guests are loud and disrespectful to the neighborhood,” he added. “An aspect of being a good businessperson means respecting the community you are a part of.”

While earning the Superhost designation can pay off with more bookings, Superhosts like Wendy Chavis say they just feel really good about welcoming and taking care of guests. “I like the idea of maintaining my home and yard for people who are appreciative,” she said. QCBN

By Stacey Wittig, QCBN

Stacey Wittig is a travel journalist based near Flagstaff. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to her website at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.

Photo by Kay Lyons: Airbnb Superhost Wendy Chavis of Prescott enjoys anticipating guests’ needs, providing special touches and making their stay a memorable visit.